**Official McGrady/Pistons 2010 Regular Season Thread**

T-mac is long as hell. He barely got any lift on that dunk and finished it strong.

 

wow i didnt even know he could still move like that. yeah, it is kinda like he's just slowly testing things here and there.

 

I bet you and tindude probably comprise a majority of it with the same hatred spewing crap over and over again. I don't really see any body "riding his nutz".

We get it...you don't like him, you wish he was dead and even then you would like to burn and dismember his body and then slowly feed it to Vernon Maxwell to rid the Rockets of any memory of the loser.

No body is riding his nutz, nobody is comparing him to your lover Kobe Bryant, in fact nobody thinks he is going to return any where to his old self. Everybody knows that he quit on his team, but some of us like to cheer for him cause he did make the Rockets a fun team to watch for a while.

As fans of Tmac we truly would like to apologize to you and especially to tindude for not living up to your lofty expectations.

I've been following the Rockets since 1990 and registered on this site in 99, but yeah you guys are right I am only a TOFaNG.

 

I didn't know Tracy could still dunk glad to see he's getting better.

 

STOP RIDING HIS NUTZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

you would be very wrong there. i hadnt posted in this thread in quite a bit, actually.

if you are going to quote me, you better do it correctly - i said "riding his nuts". i just read 5 pages worth of posts riding his nuts over 6 points he scored last night.

i dont like him.

calm down nancy, nobody is wishing him dead.

your mom loves kobe bryant.

please find one single post of mine where i have praised kobe bryant or compared mcgrady to him. hell, this might be the first time in over 8 years of posting that ive even typed the words "kobe bryant".

wrong again - ive seen quite a few posts from people thinking he can get back to his old self, but either way, i never said anything either way about whether or not he could. again, calm down nancy.

than why are there so many posts from people saying "what did t-mac ever to do the rockets?" or "why do people hate him so much?"

yes, my expectations are sooooo 'lofty'. i expect a player on my team to not quit during a game and force his teammates to play 4 on 5 on multiple possessions. i expect a player on my team to not go on national radio and call another team to win the title while our own is about to face them. i expect a player on my team to be a good teammate and not whine and cause a distraction b/c he isnt getting his way. yes, my expectations are soooo 'lofty'.

i dont believe i even quoted you in my post so why are you acting like such a baby here...i must have struck a nerve.

 

Really glad to see him moving well and getting back on the court! That's awesome!

 

That's true. But he actually had some lift. He really did.

Look at that dunk on thomas from 2 seasons ago. There was NO lift.

 

I see what you did there.

 

This was after the wizards game-From PistonPowered Tracy McGrady’s reverse dunk just a sign of things to come?
By Patrick Hayes November 22nd, 2010

Last night against the Wizards, Tracy McGrady cut to the basket, caught a lob and finished with a reverse dunk.

Initially I didn’t bat an eye, because that was a typical McGrady play. But then I remembered the T-Mac who had no lift in his final days as a Rocket, struggled last year with the Knicks and played cautiously in his brief Pistons career so far.

And apparently, McGrady believes we’ll see more plays like that from him in the future. From Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News:

“I envision being that guy again,” said McGrady, now 31. “Whether that happens I don’t know. I would like to be that guy. I’ve worked so hard to get back to being that guy. If it doesn’t happen I can look in the mirror and say I’ve done everything possible because I’ve come a long way to come to where I am today.”

If I’d read that comment from McGrady a few weeks ago, I admit I would’ve been skeptical. But every time I see him play, I grow less so. It would be unheard for a player, at his age with his significant injury history, to return to the form that helped him win a scoring title and dominate games with his athleticism. But I don’t think we’ve seen the last of McGrady as a starting-caliber player in this league.

The Pistons probably don’t have enough minutes to give him so we can fully find out, but the basic reason McGrady came here was for an opportunity to show the league he can still play, and he’s done nothing to disappoint so far.

UPDATE: Mike Payne’s comment from below was worth highlighting. McGrady’s defense has been top-notch so far:

Warning– stat nerdery. If you have access to Synergy, take a look at McGrady’s defensive stats. On 49 defensive possessions so far this season, Tracy is holding his man to 29.7% shooting. That makes him the 13th best defender in the league so far this season– regardless of position.[/B]

 

I might be tempted to believe that Tmac can be more then a roll player again, but how long before he gets hurt again?

 

tmac is playing the way he had to prove himself earlier in his career (he has to play smart, pick and choose his shots, and play defense).

he's been playing terrific. i think he's playing within himself and that's why you don't see him jacking up shots and things like that.

we're seeing signs of his revitalization every game. and hopefully he continues to just improve until he gets 30+ minutes again. he should simply use this time to get some confidence in his legs and his skills again and know he's still more talented than most in this league.

and i hope he doesn't lose the passion to play defense if he ever regains his old stuff. i was disappointed with his defense the past 2 years as a rocket.

well, who can predict that? as long as it's not his back or his knee, he should be ok. but if it is, then at least he knows he tried. that's all you can hope for. he could have easily given up after 2 embarrassing seasons trying to get back. but he didn't. he should be applauded for that.

 

I think thats the million dollar question. Even if some how he can get back to being an ok player not great just ok how long will it last.

 

As a longtime Tmac fan who has been incredibly frustrated with him and disappointed with him in the latter years with the Rockets, I just want him to atleast get to 20,000 career points. Otherwise it would just be plain embarrassing after the way he played during his prime and his sudden dropoff.

 

Yeah, I think that's fair. For the first time in few years he is getting minutes not because of the 'McGrady' sign on the back of his jersey, but because of his play, effort.

Interesting.

 

There's no shame in getting only layups. All the trying to be "explosive" and regaining dunking prowess is good, but its more important to be healthy, functional and productive. If McGrady lost half his vertical but could move around like Steve Nash, should he still talk about wanting to be "that guy"?

 

Yup, he just needs to get his ability to run the floor, and even more importantly, he HAS GOT to FIND his shot.

In fact, he needs to become one of the elite shooters at the SF position.

Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant do not have much explosion anymore, but they can post up, defend, and shoot with the best of them. Mcgrady is still crafty enough to find space If only he can find his shot...

 

I think he's really missing the jumpshot and mentality right now.

Just man up and jump off that left leg.

 

As the season goes on his J looks better and better. Not really from long range or free throws but his midrange game has been pretty solid last few games.

 

True that.

He is outstanding using his left hand and going left which is great.

If he can start going to his right again, which is his STRONG side, he will make his game a lot more easier.